Collapsible misting fan apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable, evaporative cooling apparatus consists of a cabinet for storing cooling water, a water pump, a fan, and a spraying system. The fan is mountable on the cabinet lid and is removable from the cabinet lid for storage within the cabinet. The cabinet has wheels that allow it to be rolled along a surface and a handle for pulling the cabinet along the surface. The apparatus may be retrofit to a standard food cooler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an evaporative cooling apparatus and,more particularly, to a portable evaporative cooling apparatus thatincludes a standard food cooler chest and a quick release for removablymounting the fan of the cooling apparatus to the food cooler chest.

2. Background of the Invention

Evaporative coolers are used in a variety of settings includingfactories, warehouses, workshops and agricultural structures, as well asautomobiles, homes, offices, trailers and at the sidelines of sportingevents. Evaporative cooling improves workplace productivity by keepingworkers cool in the workplace which, in turn, reduces heat-relatedillness and employee turn-over, particularly in the summer months and/orin hotter climates. It also improves performance of sports players bykeeping players cool or preventing heat exhaustion in sports that demandextended periods of physical exertion.

Evaporative coolers require minimal parts and are relatively simple tomanufacture and maintain, making them an attractive alternative toconventional air conditioning and mechanical refrigeration systems.Because of their simple construction, the cost of acquiring andoperating evaporative coolers is considerably lower than that ofconventional air conditioning systems. Moreover, evaporative coolers areespecially useful in outside environments, whether open, such as anathletic field, or enclosed, for example, a factory or the like, whereasrefrigeration systems in such environments are comparativelyinefficient, if not impractical. Evaporative coolers are also economicalsince they use minimal amounts of energy and environmentally safe sincethey have no CFCs or HCFCs.

The versatility and other advantages of evaporative coolers have causedmanufacturers to explore ways of making them more attractive to a widerrange of consumers. One way of doing this is by making evaporativecoolers more portable. Heretofore, attempts at improving portabilityhave included, for example, reducing the size of and combining thecomponents of the evaporative cooler into a smaller and more compactsystem. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,769,620, which is illustrative of atypical portable evaporative cooler. Other attempts have includedself-containing certain portions of the evaporative cooler, for example,by providing a water source that is remote from, or a separate componentof, the evaporative cooler.

Yet another attempt to provide a portable evaporative cooling system isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,371 entitled, “Method and Apparatus forMisting Vehicle Occupants.” The '371 patent integrates an evaporativecooling system into a golf cart having the fluid reservoir and othercomponents integrated within the golf cart body. A disadvantage of thesystem disclosed in the '371 patent is the use of an accumulator systemand accompanying solenoid valve. The accumulator is a device which trapsair to store energy for supplying water under a substantially constantpressure. The accumulator therefore is implemented to reduce the pulsingof fluid to the mist nozzles caused by the pump. The inclusion of anaccumulator and accompanying solenoid further increases the cost andcomplexity of the system and provides a potential reliability problemsince the accumulator reservoir is often an inflatable diaphragm whichmay puncture or leak during the rugged operation of the golf cart.Alternatively, the accumulator reservoir is a rigid tank whichdisadvantageously increases the size of the system, making it difficultto incorporate the system into various types or vehicles orapplications.

Another attempt to provide an evaporative cooler is illustrated by U.S.Pat. No. 6,182,463. The '463 patent discloses a portable evaporativecooling apparatus having a fan, a water pump, and a water cooler forstoring the water. However, the '463 patent has certain disadvantages.First, because the apparatus as disclosed is designed to be mounted inthe top opening of a round water cooler, it has a high center of gravityso that the device can easily be tipped over. Second, the fan ispermanently mounted to the adapter that connects to the water cooler andtherefore cannot be disconnected from the adapter for transport.

There is accordingly a need for an improved evaporative water coolerthat addresses the deficiencies discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable, evaporative cooling apparatus, comprising:

-   -   (a) a cabinet for storing cooling water, the cabinet having an        open top and a lid;    -   (b) a water pump attached to the cabinet for pumping cooling        water out of the cabinet;    -   (c) a fan removably mounted on the lid and storable within the        cabinet and    -   (d) a spraying system attached to the fan and to the water pump.

A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that thefan is removably mountable on the lid of a cooler cabinet by a quickrelease mechanism.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is thatthe fan can be stored within the cooler cabinet.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is thatthe apparatus has a low center of gravity and therefore has littletendency to tip over.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is thatthe cooler cabinet is mounted on wheels for easy transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is detailed perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interior of the apparatus of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present inventionfrom the side.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present inventionfrom the rear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The portable, evaporative cooling apparatus of the present invention isgenerally shown in the Figures as reference numeral 10.

The apparatus 10 comprises a cabinet 12 for storing cooling water, thecabinet having an open top 14 and a lid 16. A water pump 18 is attachedto the cabinet for pumping cooling water out of the cabinet. A fan 20 isremovably mounted on the lid 16. When removed from the lid 16, the fan20 may be stored within the cabinet 12. A spraying system 30 is attachedto the fan and to the water pump.

Preferably, the water pump 18 is attached to the underside 16 a of thelid 16 within the cabinet 12 and is connected to the spraying system 30by a removable connection 32. Most preferably, the removable connection32 comprises a first hose 34 from the water pump 18 to the lid 16, aconnector 35 in the lid mating with the first hose 34, and a second hose36 from the connector 35 to the spraying system 30. The second hose 36is disconnectable from the connector 35.

Alternatively, the water pump 18 may be attached to the lid 16 atanother location such as the outside of the lid 16. In such a case (notillustrated), the water pump 18 would draw water from the cabinet 12 byan appropriate connection and would in turn be connected to the sprayingsystem 30 by a removable connection 32.

Preferably, the fan 20 has a base 40 which is attached to the lid 16 bya removable connection 42 between the base 40 and the lid 16. In thepreferred embodiment, the removable connection 42 is a pin 44 thatconnects the base 40 to a mounting plate 46 on the lid 16.

Preferably, the fan 20 has a blade housing 50 enclosing the fan blades,and the spraying system 30 is mounted on the blade housing 50. Althoughthe spraying system 30 is preferably mounted downstream from the airflow of the fan 20, it will be understood that it could also be mountedupstream from the air flow. In the preferred embodiment, the sprayingsystem 30 comprises at least one misting nozzle 52 and a manifold 54connecting the second hose 36 to the misting nozzle 52.

Preferably, the apparatus 10 further comprises at least one wheel 60 onthe cabinet adapted to be rolled along a surface such as a floor F and ahandle 62 adapted to pull the apparatus 10 as it is rolled along thesurface F.

Preferably, the apparatus 10 further comprises an electrical plug 64 onthe fan 20 and a mating electrical plug 65 on the lid 16. A power cord66 connects to the water pump 18 through the lid 16 through atransformer 68 and also to the electrical plug 64.

It should be understood that the apparatus 10 can be retrofitted to astandard food cooler 70, the standard food cooler 70 comprising thecabinet 12.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described below. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law andregulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, includingdefinitions, will control.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it istherefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made tothe appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicatethe scope of the invention.

1. A portable, evaporative cooling apparatus, comprising: (a) a cabinetfor storing cooling water, the cabinet having an open top and a lid, thelid having an inside and an outside; (b) a water pump attached to thecabinet for pumping cooling water out of the cabinet; (c) a fanremovably mounted on the lid and storable within the cabinet and (d) aspraying system attached to the fan and to the water pump.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the water pump is attached to the insideof the lid within the cabinet and further comprising a removableconnection to the spraying system.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe water pump is attached to the outside of the lid and furthercomprising a removable connection to the spraying system.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the removable connection further comprisesa first hose from the water pump to the lid, a connector in the lidmating with the first hose, and a second hose from the connector in thelid to the spraying system, and wherein the second hose isdisconnectable from the connector.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe fan has a base and further comprising a removable connection betweenthe base and the lid.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the removableconnection is a pin.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising ahold-down plate mounted to the lid, wherein the pin holds the base tothe mounting plate.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, the fan having a bladehousing, and wherein the spraying system is mounted to the bladehousing.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spraying systemfurther comprises at least one misting nozzle and a manifold.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one wheel on thecabinet adapted to be rolled along a surface.
 11. The apparatus of claim10, further comprising a handle adapted to pull the cabinet as it isrolled along a surface.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisingan electrical plug on the fan and a mating electrical plug on the lid.13. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a power cord connectingto the water pump through the lid.
 14. A portable, evaporative coolingapparatus for retrofitting to a food cooler, the food cooler having alid, the lid having an outside and an inside, the cooling apparatuscomprising: (a) a water pump adapted to be attached to the food coolerfor pumping cooling water out of the food cooler; (b) a fan adapted tobe removably mounted on the lid and adaptable to be storable within thefood cooler and (c) a spraying system attached to the fan and to thewater pump.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the water pump isadapted to be attached to the inside of the lid within the food coolerand further comprising a removable connection to the spraying system.16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the water pump is adapted to beattached to the outside of the lid and further comprising a removableconnection to the spraying system.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15,wherein the removable connection further comprises a first hose from thewater pump to the lid, a connector in the lid mating with the firsthose, and a second hose from the connector in the lid to the sprayingsystem, and wherein the second hose is disconnectable from theconnector.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fan has a base andfurther comprising a removable connection between the base and the lid.19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the removable connection is apin.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a hold-down platemounted to the lid, wherein the pin holds the base to the mountingplate.
 21. The apparatus of claim 14, the fan having a blade housing,and wherein the spraying system is mounted to the blade housing.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the spraying system further comprises atleast one misting nozzle and a manifold.
 23. The apparatus of claim 14,further comprising at least one wheel on the food cooler adapted to berolled along a surface.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, furthercomprising a handle adapted to pull the food cooler as it is rolledalong a surface.
 25. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising anelectrical plug on the fan and a mating electrical plug on the lid. 26.The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a power cord connecting tothe water pump through the lid.
 27. A portable, evaporative coolingapparatus, comprising: (a) a food cooler for storing cooling water, thefood cooler having an open top and a lid; (b) a water pump attached tothe food cooler for pumping cooling water out of the food cooler; (c) afan removably mounted on the lid and storable within the food cooler;and (d) a spraying system attached to the fan and to the water pump. 28.The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the water pump is attached to theunderside of the lid within the food cooler and further comprising aremovable connection to the spraying system.
 29. The apparatus of claim28, wherein the removable connection further comprises a first hose fromthe water pump to the lid, a connector in the lid mating with the firsthose, and a second hose from the connector in the lid to the sprayingsystem, and wherein the second hose is disconnectable from theconnector.
 30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the fan has a base andfurther comprising a removable connection between the base and the lid.31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the removable connection is apin.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a hold-down platemounted to the lid, wherein the pin holds the base to the mountingplate.
 33. The apparatus of claim 27, the fan having a blade housing,and wherein the spraying system is mounted to the blade housing.
 34. Theapparatus of claim 33, wherein the spraying system further comprises atleast one misting nozzle and a manifold.
 35. The apparatus of claim 27,further comprising at least one wheel on the food cooler adapted to berolled along a surface.
 36. The apparatus of claim 35, furthercomprising a handle adapted to pull the food cooler as it is rolledalong a surface.
 37. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising anelectrical plug on the fan and a mating electrical plug on the lid. 38.The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a power cord connecting tothe water pump through the lid.